ADKR failed to end their losing streak after the new comers scored big runs for the Capitals:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, though out of the contention for the knockout stage, still began the match at their home ground against the Dubai Capitals with hopes to get their first victory of the season. The hopes which were mercilessly destroyed by the Capitals again. Things went underway after both captains Sunil Narine and Rovman Powell entered the ground for the toss. Capitals won the toss and asked the Knight Riders to bat first.
Paul Stirling and Joe Clarke initiated things for ADKR while Fred Klaassen took the charge with the new ball. Early wicket fell for the Knight Riders after Hazrat Luqman sent Paul Stirling back for a duck. Dhananjaya de Silva was the new man in after Stirling’s fall. Joe Clarke’s blade was making efforts to keep the run rate rising but DDS remained quiet. Again, it was Luqman who got another wicket in his next over, following an over of sloppy deliveries by Chamika Karunaratne as well as errors by the fielders. Luqman, after getting triggered by a flurry of Joe Clarke’s fours, sent DDS back to get his second of the day. Brandon King entered the arena next but Clarke’s blitz continued. The wicket-keeper batter did not even spare Luqman as he thrashed him for couple of boundaries in the first over after powerplay. Adam Zampa brought glad tidings for his team as he ended Joe Clarke’s stay by trapping him LBW.
None of the next 3 batters could stay for long on the crease and build the innings as the Capitals’ bowlers regularly kept on sending them back. It took some brave contributions from Akeal Hosein, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine to take the Knight Riders’ total to 149 by the time 20 overs ended. Teams went in for a short break, each framing their own strategies to win the game from here.
DUBAI CAPITALS’ BATTING:
Two new inclusions, Niroshan Dickwella and George Munsey, came to open for the Capitals while Matiullah Khan took the new ball. Thrashing by the openers started in the third over when both batters collectively handed Paul Stirling 17 runs. A dropped catch in the 5th over further bolstered the Capitals batters confidence. Power play ended and the Capitals already had 59 runs in their pocket. However, the first dent on the batting lineup of the DC came soon when Akeal Hosein pairing with Dhananjaya de Silva sent Dickwella back to the dressing room. In came Dasun Shanaka and saw Munsey hammering the ADKR bowlers fearlessly. A few silent overs followed, where Munsey rotated strike to reach his well-deserved half century. Shanaka was getting into his form but Lahiru Kumara soon cleaned him up with a yorker. The second fell for the Capitals, who were only 27 runs away from the victory as the 14th over ended. Next batter to tread out was Rovman Powell who whacked Russell for two huge sixes to take home and brought, the already meagre, asking rate to less than 2 runs per over. Munsey soon departed but the damage was already done and before the 18th over ended, the Capitals reached the target and won their 3rd match of the tournament.
